The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-12-09

HIS SENTENCE FIFTEEN YEARS AT
HARD LABOR.

the Safe Blower-HiS Demeanor in
the Dock-He Prophesies His Escape
and Says He Will Yet Do Fine Work
A Batch of Criminals Convicted.
There was a larger crowd than usual at
the court house yesterday morning because
it was known that G. w. Ward, alias J. B.
Warner, the safe blower, would be tried.
Ward, with two others, blew open Davis
Bros safe Sept. "A, and two days later he
was captured at Florence, S. G. Since that
time great interest has been manifested in
his case because it was known that he was
one of the expert cracksmen who are rarely
brought to justice because of their skill not
only in the preparation of crime, but in
covering up all their tracks and evading
their pursuerS For that reason there were
many persons who wanted to see Ward and
find out just how a skillful professional
thief looks. Common thieves are seen every
day, but there was great desire to see an
aristocrat among thieves
Shortly after court opened j. +. B. Beck
with, Esq, Wards attorney, came into
court, and, to the disappointment of many,
entered a plea of guilty for his client.
WARD IN THE DOCK
Ward was Immediately placed in the
dock, but Judge Adams let him remain
there until the days panel of jurymen had
been called. For half an hour Ward sat on
that most anxious of all benches, and during
the time he was the one object of interest in
the room. His face was covered with
black beard, which was neatly trimmed a la
Anglaise. and his black moustache stood out
straight and smooth; his hair is black, his
nOSEs STRAIGHT and ghaf0alXy his clin q c fair az
woman's and his eye sharp and keen. He
has pleasant smile, and altogether he is en-
lowed by nature with all that thoroughly
good confidence man needs. His appearance
would be rather attractive if one did not
know that he was a professional criminal,
but knowing that the attraction is not felt
KEEPING A STIFF UPPER LIP.
In the dock he was cool, and, while there
was no air of braggadocio, he was thor
oughly self-possessed. Mr.. Beckwith sat
just in front of the dock, and turning to
Ward said: ''Keep stiff upper lip, Ward"
Ward smiled and replied: "This is where a
man needs it," Three Deputy Sheriffs
stood around him, and glancing at them
Mr.. Beckwith said: 'They seem to think
you'll get away" Ward gazed steadily at
his attorney for just moment, and then
smiled again, but said nothing. At last
Judge Adams turned toward him and said:
George Ward, stand up.n
Ward arose and faced the Judge. His
right hand rested on the railing before him
and his left, the fist clenched, upon his hip.
His face was without expression, and it did
not change during all the time the Judge
spoke. He expected the full limit. He had
said so, and he was prepared to receive it
without weakening.
LISTENING TO HIS SENTENCE.
Judge Adams said
"You have pleaded guilty to burglary
The penalty is from one to twenty years in
the penitentiary A confession, unless ac-
companied by contrition or something that
suggests the possibility of reformation, is
hardly a sufficient reason for tempering
justice with mercy. ! am afraid that YOU
belong to that class which is at war with
society. know of nothing that will bring
you to a condition of friendship and peace
with mankind. The fact that the burglary
was committed in a store and not in a
dwelling, where human life might have
been endangered, is the only reason why
the full penalty should not be imposed
The sentence of the court is that you be
taken hence to the county Jail, there to re-
main until guard from the penitentiary
shall call for you, and that you be taken to
the penitentiary or to such other place as
the Governor of Georgia may direct and
there confined at hard labor for a term of
fifteen years"
BACK TO HIS CELL.
Ward did not move until one of the depu-
ties said, Come down." Then he smiled
and turned to pick up his hat, but, remem-
boring that he had not brought it into the
dock with him, he stepped down and was
led into the Sheriff's office. A few minutes
later he was taken back to the Jail, with his
hands cuffed behind him. He wanted them
in front, but Sheriff Roman did not think it
safe to trust him. Before he left the office,
however, he began to talk about his case.
''I'll be fifteen years older when | come out
unless l get an allowance for good con-
duct" he said, and he showed his familiari-
ty with the customs of courts elsewhere,
when he said. 1.-The Judge did not ask me
if l had anything to say why sentence
should not be pronounced upon me-"
STANCE to say, in spite Of his plea of
guilty, Ward asserts that he is innocent of
the crime of burglary. "They think they
have a case against me" he said, because
they found me with burglars tools. Why,
l don't do my work with tools. If the
Judge will knock ten years off my sentence
| will open any two safes in Savannah with
out tools in ten minutes. | did not come
down here to blow any such safe as the one
that was cracked | came down to hit the
post office, but one of my pals got drunk
and spoiled the game"
TO GO TO THE MINES.
The impression about the court room was
that Ward might remain in the penitentiary
six months, but by that time he would be
tired of it and would leave. Ward himself
said to one of the deputies, "I'll stay up
there awhile and then I'll pop somebody
over. Then I'll show these people what
fine work isl Ward "reckonS without his
host" however, for he will soon be familiar
with the Dade county coal mines, and who
enters there leaves hope behind. He will be
down in the coal mine
Underneath the ground
Where a CLEAN of sunshine
Never can be found.
Digging dusky diamonds
All the seasons round,
Down in a coal mine
Underneath the ground?"
and unless he can climb the hole he cannot
get out.
Ward is an educated man, and for that
reason he is all the more dangerous. He
has Travelled all over Europe and the United
States, England, France, Germany, Italy,
and in fact. all the countries of Europe have
held him and were the poorer for his leav-
ing, though they got off cheap. He is
wanted in about as many places as there are
States and Territories in the Union. 1t is
almost certain that he is convict who es-
capped from the Massachusetts, penitentary,
and the walls of many more prison houses
are pining to receive him.
LOVES TO TALK OF HIMSELF.
His trouble has no doubt been caused by